The Goat Sanctuary started in May 1998 and now has around 160 goats in its care.  Many of these arrive suffering from malnutrition, lice, worms and lameness.  Some have been gifted into us from caring people who can no longer look after their pets for many reasons. But many arrive abandoned, miss-treated and unwanted.

The goats are cared for by my husband Stewart, myself Cheryl, a small but very important team of volunteers and Dave the Vet.

Goats are kept by people for various reasons, as pets,  to produce milk and cheese, for fibre and sometimes simply to clear areas of land other farm animals would turn their noses up at.

Goats are inquisitive, intelligent, playful and on the whole co-operative (although you will always get the odd grump).  They are a herd animal and should never live without the company of at least one other goat.

We have three separate herds at the sanctuary.  In the wild a goat will live in a herd of about 45 but as our goats are not related to each other bullying can take place and we have to keep a close  eye on the more placid ones during the day when they are all playing out.  All the goats have their own room at night or share with 1 or 2 friends.

All our supporters are most welcome to visit the goats and spend time cuddling and fussing them all.  There is no shortage of attention seekers here and there are a number of “professional fabric testers”, that is, don’t wear your best clothes, if it’s an option between hay or your woolly in their mouth the woolly wins hooves down.  Be in no doubt, you will be put under personal inspection! 

There are many ways you can personally help the goats you see in these pages and the ones we have yet to help.If you don't have the room for a goat of your own at home visit our page on adoption. Your support will help keep the goats here fed, watered, housed and most importantly cuddled 365 days a year for the rest of their life.